Boy's throat slashed in Reading

READING -- A 15-year-old boy walking toward a playground near his house Friday evening was fatally attacked at Church and Douglass streets by an older man who slashed his throat, Reading police said.

Wilberto Rojas, of the 800 block of Church Street, was on his street about 6:30 p.m. when the assailant struck, said police, who said the attack was unprovoked.

Rojas fell on the southwest corner of the intersection and was rushed to Reading Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later, the Berks County coroner's office said.

An autopsy is scheduled for noon today in the hospital.

Children and older residents in the neighborhood watched in horror as police documented the crime scene and searched for evidence.

"He played basketball all the time," said Nazir Williams, 14, who lives in the neighborhood and went to school with Rojas. "He was OK."

Williams said that Rojas was not a troublemaker and had just finished ninth grade at the Citadel Intermediate High School.

A young girl added, "He lives right there on Church Street and was probably on his way to the park to play basketball."

The girl, who did not give her name, said he had his basketball with him when he was attacked. She said he was nice and once let her use his ball to play.

Veteran police investigators shook their heads and gritted their teeth when talking about the slaying and age of the victim. They had no motive or suspect.

Police taped off the intersection and scoured the neighborhood. A flip-flip and towel were left where Rojas fell. A city police dog was brought to try to track the killer, but could not pick up his scent.

Police described the assailant as a Latino man in his early 30s with a light complexion, medium height and medium build.

Someone who saw him kill the boy chased him north on Church to Windsor Street, where he was last seen, police said.

Neighbors said there had been a few fights recently in the block and possibly a shooting. They said police had been monitoring the block but it was unclear if the earlier incidents were related to Friday's slaying.

"I've been living here for 15 years and always thought it was a pretty decent neighborhood compared to some neighborhoods -- until all of this recent stuff," said Cheri Ash, who watched from her front porch as police photographed the scene and searched the block.